A couple of questions from a novice who wants to "catch up".

Of course one doesn't need a 'solo canoe' to canoe solo...considering the length and weight are close to the same as my 15 foot Trapper, is the solo canoe configuration critical for solo adventuring? Sell me on the exceptional differences so I can appreciate their nuances and 'pitch' a true "solo canoe" to my wife.

Is solo adventuring about the solo experience or just the ability to control your own water craft? I've read of solo group trips. Is it really a solo trip if you are traveling and camping in a pack? Educate me please.

Last summer, after many years of group exploration, I experienced my first solo trek and I have two lined up for this summer including an ice out opportunity mid May. This time around I will bring good books (bad, bad book choice last year), a better camera, my new chota hippies and boots, new pfd and paddle my winter restoration project, which turned out much better than I ever expected.

My breath catches as read this forum and begin my mental preparation for the summer adventures ahead.

Thank you for your continued insight,

Solo canoes are just more fun in my opinion. They give you more freedom and control over your boat from a narrow midship paddling station. Paddling a tandem canoe solo can be tiresome, uncomfortable, difficult, slow, and risky in wind and waves. Granted some of the smaller tandems with less carrying capacity can be reasonable preformers when paddled solo because they are less subject to being blown around by the wind.

quote MacCamper: "Is it really a solo trip if you are traveling and camping in a pack? Educate me please."

The term "group solo" has always sounded like an oxymoron to me.

On the other hand, I can't think of another term appropriate to describe a bunch of folks running around in solo canoes. Maybe "cat herding" would be more descriptive.

Herding cats

can i assume that your winter restoration project was reconditioning an old town w/c trapper? if so you've already have a sweet solo canoe. i paddle a 16' pal, i remade it from junk. the canoe becomes a huge part of the experience, it's not something i plunked $2000 on, it's a canoe with a certain magic, and i was the person who recreated it. i hope you have that same experience. for me solo means just that. me and the wilderness. no distractions. my gear is simple, i don't want to get caught up that materialistic mind set, in fact that is what i am trying to leave behind. i do appreciate having a good camera though. i sometimes bring my dog, especially if i am backpacking. the dog takes some of the 'solo' out of soloing, but he adds a certain degree of outdoors awareness and instinct that i don't possess and he does his best to share this awareness with me. so the dog does become something that i consider outside of being solo.

quote BearBrown: "Solo canoes are just more fun in my opinion. They give you more freedom and control over your boat from a narrow midship paddling station. Paddling a tandem canoe solo can be tiresome, uncomfortable, difficult, slow, and risky in wind and waves. Granted some of the smaller tandems with less carrying capacity can be reasonable preformers when paddled solo because they are less subject to being blown around by the wind."

Well said BearBrown!

Going solo in a tandem, or soloing a "combi-boat", (i.e., a canoe with three fixed seats or a kneeling thwart that can be used to solo a tandem), is a compromise in my opinion. Examples would be the Wenonah Solo Plus or the Bell Starfire.

Yes I know, there are those "traditionalists" that like to turn their Prospectors, Bob Specials, Nova Craft Pals, or whatever around and paddle reversed from the bow seat instead. If that makes them happy, more power to them. There is no right or wrong, it's just whatever canoe or style you find to be the most fun. Last I checked, that's why we all do what we do here. But for me, I love paddling a "dedicated" solo canoe.

A "true" solo boat is designed for one paddler, whether it's a freestyle solo, a USCA marathon C-1, a large volume tripping solo boat, a whitewater play boat, etc., a solo canoe can be more specialized to the individual paddler.

Therefore, depending on what type of waterways you paddle, or what canoeing style you prefer, sit and switch, freestyle, traditional, etc., the design intent of a solo canoe can better tailored to the individual paddler. Quite simply as BearBrown said, "Solo canoes are just more fun!"

Additionally, solo canoes tend to be lighter and sleeker than tandem canoes. Therefore, car topping and portaging tend to be less burdensome. If you own a well designed solo canoe, you may also find you'll go paddling more often, because you're not dependent on having a paddling partner. Quite simply, you can just throw it on the car and go when the urge strikes you.

As far as group solo trips, yes it does seem to be an oxymoron, but it still has its advantages over a group trip in tandem canoes. If everyone is self-contained, there's no worry or blame about who is packing what or finger pointing if something is forgotten. Additionally, if one or more individuals wants to break away from the pack and do a night or two alone, you have that option also.

It's also great to have your own solo canoe when you make camp. You can go out fishing, exploring, take photographs, etc., even if no one else in the solo group wants go along. Sure you can do that with a tandem as well. But as stated earlier in my reply, you're now doing it in a canoe specifically designed for the solo paddler. It's just a more personal watercraft in my opinion.

Hans Solo

Gear has wide application. Portage packs are easier to handle out of a canoe, but backpacks work fine. A solo design will work better, but the aluminum barge could get the job done. Paddle what you can and build brownie points for that improvement when it is right.
Solo tripping also has wide application. We do what we can with what we got. On a recent tandem trip we ran into some BWCA.com shirts and met some great folks. If out alone it is nice to be friendly and since I am the only one to please I can stay or move on. Solo is essentially not having to consult with anyone or coordinate anything with anyone for a few days. That can be really nice. I am not sure the one who stays back home will really want to understand that.

In response to your questions, MacCamper:

"...is the solo canoe configuration critical for solo adventuring? Sell me on the exceptional differences so I can appreciate their nuances and 'pitch' a true "solo canoe" to my wife."

I "soloed" with tandem canoes for 20 some years before purchasing a true solo canoe a few years ago. I had no issues with using the tandem as a solo canoe. Yes, harder to paddle in unfavorable conditions, but the price was right. The solo canoe is more efficient from a paddling and portaging aspect. I'm lucky to have a wife who understands me and was supportive when I purchased a solo canoe...no need to "pitch" it to her....love is kinda neat about things like that...

Is solo adventuring about the solo experience or just the ability to control your own water craft?

For me, it about the solo experience. I have not done a "group" solo...I trip with family at times, which is fun, but I also solo because at times I desire to paddle alone...

Best wishes on your future solo trips. I hope you'll have similar positive experiences that I've been fortunate to have over the years...

"Sell me on the exceptional differences so I can appreciate their nuances and 'pitch' a true "solo canoe" to my wife."

Depends on which solo canoe you are looking for on how you would frame your sales pitch. For me I find solo canoes to be more about being able to lose your concerns about the other paddler in a tandem canoe. No confounding of who is doing what to the hull. It is just you and your ability to handle the canoe in the conditions you are in.

"Is solo adventuring about the solo experience or just the ability to control your own water craft?" For me it is mostly being able to do it myself, not having to be dependent on anthers help. I have had to have help when in a solo canoe when with friends. they actually had to carry my canoe across a portage when my hip /back was going crazy. Prescription Narcotics was not able to mask the pain.

"I've read of solo group trips. Is it really a solo trip if you are traveling and camping in a pack." The canoeing is solo the in camp stuff is great socially. it can be fun to be all by yourself and listen to what the water wind and woods are speaking, if you can let yourself not go navel gazing all the time. I often will take a different way across a body of water, because I just choose to. There are many ways to do group solo trips.

Solo Paddling for me has deepened my appreciation for learning how to paddle. For me I learned far more about paddling when I started solo paddling than all my years of paddling tandem. I will paddle tandem, but would prefer to solo when possible.

I sometimes wonder if having a dog along counts as solo. A dog is company, sometimes better than human company.

MY take on soloing is very simple, I do solos because I don't have to make any decisions for anyone else in the group I usually go with, I'm the 'old guy' so lots of time I'm expected to make the decisions. Just me, I decide when to get up,when to eat, when to sleep, you get the point. For years I soloed out of 17 foot aluimacraft, put lots of miles on it, got blowed around on a lot of lakes but enjoyed it. I bought a Mad River Traveler a few years ago and loved it, but ended up having three back surgeries in three years, the canoe didn't actually cause the problems but it didn't help any either, have now upgraded to a 29 pound carbon model from Savage River. As for my wife I tell her when, where I'm going and when I hope to get back and she's OK, she still raises my life insurance every time I go, sort of beginning to wonder if she kind of hopes I don't come back...Ha- Ha FRED

Group solo's aren't really the same as a true solo, but adds a sort of dimension to the experience. A true solo boat, even though at first seem tippier can be a little safer in some ways. Being a little closer to the front you can see things like rocks better for one thing and being more in the middle you may have things balanced better making it more stable. Solo boats are not as wide making paddling from more the center more practical. I think solo tripping is great for the soul and has it's place. Have fun on the trips you have planned and let us know if you find some of the answers to your questions from your experiences.

quote Jeriatric: "I sometimes wonder if having a dog along counts as solo. A dog is company, sometimes better than human company."

At least dogs usually go where you want them to and don't talk back ... unless they are hungry.

Obviously, a solo canoe isn't critical to soloing, but it is a better tool for the job than a tandem. The solo canoe best suited to your needs is a better tool for the job than any old solo canoe. The best tool for the job will be the safest - that's what you can tell your wife :).

Solo adventuring is about the solo experience, but judging from your post you already know that. Why else do you have two more planned this year after your first last year? Why else does your breath catch as you read this forum and begin your mental preparation for the summer ahead?

I think I would enjoy a "group solo", but it wouldn't be quite the same experience as a "true solo".

Enjoy your trips and your good books, too, but just remember...boredom can be a really novel experience :).

freedom.

quote kanoes: "freedom."

That's one of the first thoughts that popped into my mind - freedom from the constraints of others.

That was followed shortly by the thought of an uninterrupted experience and awareness of the natural world.

My First Solo, I took a Smaller Tandem (Bell NorthStar) and took the tandem seats out and put a solo seat in the middle. (Didn't want to spend the money on a new canoe at the time, and yet wanted the paddling station nearer to a true solo canoe) You can very well paddle a tandem canoe solo, without doing that. I feel the biggest obstacle is the wider paddling station (a little inconvenient but not a deal breaker) and generally a bigger boat so WIND becomes more of a factor, as the boat is larger. I feel with a load of packs, gear and a person, the saftey part is almost non existant solo canoe vs tandem, as the ballast from all the gear sits the boat in the water good enough.
Is solo canoeing about the solo experience or controlling your watercraft? YES to both, hard to beat the solo experience and also hard to beat controlling your own boat.
Have to also agree on the FREEDOM aspect, that is a big deal.
SunCatcher